Kevin McHale ends long, painful road back to playoffs

Kevin McHale returned to coaching with the Rockets because he missed, most of all, the competition. (Smiley N. Pool/Chronicle)

From the beginning, Kevin McHale’s answer was the same. He had been asked again and again why he would put himself through all this, through the demands and occasional pain of coaching, why he would get back on that hamster wheel. He was a Hall of Famer. He had won championships. He had options.

Even Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and owner Leslie Alexander pressed him during those marathon interview sessions two years ago before he was hired about why he wanted to return to a position and lifestyle that for many years he had seemed to resist.

McHale never wavered. He wanted to feel the competition. No, more than wanted it, he had come to know he needed it. He could not get that feeling he missed chatting in a television studio or by pulling the catch of the day out of his favorite lake from the 10,000 or so in his Minnesota home.

The Rockets will try to become the sixth team to win an NBA playoff series as a No. 8 seed over a No. 1.

The Rockets will try to become the sixth team to win an NBA playoff series as a No. 8 seed over a No. 1.

Photo: James Nielsen / Chronicle

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<strong><center>1994: No. 8 Denver over No. 1 Seattle</strong></center><br>
One of the footnotes in the Rockets first NBA title. The Nuggets win over Seattle in Game 5 (first round series were best-of-five then) knocked out one of the Rockets’ nemesis from the playoffs. The Nuggets, led by Dikembe Mutombo, took Utah to seven games in round two before falling. The Rockets then dispatched the Jazz to reach the NBA Finals. less

<strong><center>1994: No. 8 Denver over No. 1 Seattle</strong></center><br>
One of the footnotes in the Rockets first NBA title. The Nuggets win over Seattle in Game 5 (first round series were best-of-five ... more

Photo: Gary Stewart / Associated Press

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<strong><center>1999: No. 8 New York over No. 1 Miami</strong></center><br>
Allan Houston won the deciding Game 5 for the Knicks with a running one-hander with 0.8 seconds left. The shot bounced off the backboard and the rim before falling through to give New York the win. The Knicks went on to reach the NBA Finals where they fell to San Antonio in five games. less

<strong><center>1999: No. 8 New York over No. 1 Miami</strong></center><br>
Allan Houston won the deciding Game 5 for the Knicks with a running one-hander with 0.8 seconds left. The shot bounced off the ... more

Photo: Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press

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<strong><center>2007: No. 8 Golden State over No. 1 Dallas</strong></center><br>
The Warriors became the first No. 8 seed to knock off a No. 1 in a seven-game series. The Mavericks had won a franchise record 67 games and were the defending Western Conference champions but fell in Game 6, 111-86. Baron Davis, hobbled by a hamstring, scored 20 points, and Stephen Jackson added 33. If the Rockets had been able to beat the Jazz in their Game 7, they would have faced the Warriors in the second round. less

<strong><center>2007: No. 8 Golden State over No. 1 Dallas</strong></center><br>
The Warriors became the first No. 8 seed to knock off a No. 1 in a seven-game series. The Mavericks had won a franchise record ... more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press

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<strong><center>2011: No. 8 Memphis over No. 1 San Antonio</strong></center><br>
The Grizzlies had won three of four over the Spurs in the regular season but it was still a surprise to see the 61-win Spurs go out in six games. Zach Randolph had 17 of the Grizzlies’ 19 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 31. Memphis gave Oklahoma City a scare in the second round before falling in seven games. less

<strong><center>2011: No. 8 Memphis over No. 1 San Antonio</strong></center><br>
The Grizzlies had won three of four over the Spurs in the regular season but it was still a surprise to see the 61-win Spurs go ... more

Photo: Mark Humphrey / Associated Press

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<strong><center>2012: No. 8 Philadelphia over No. 1 Chicago</strong></center><br>
The series turned in Game 1 when the Bulls’ Derrick Rose injured his knee and was gone for good. The Bulls still had a chance but then lost Joakim Noah to injury in Game 4. The Sixers finally got the series in Game 6 at home when Andre Iguodola hit the game-winner with 2.2 seconds left. less

<strong><center>2012: No. 8 Philadelphia over No. 1 Chicago</strong></center><br>
The series turned in Game 1 when the Bulls’ Derrick Rose injured his knee and was gone for good. The Bulls still had a ... more